• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.769-778
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• 2007

Background & Object : Postprandial epigastric fullness is one of common symptoms in functional dyspepsia, but its pathophysiological mechanism has still been unknown. In this study, its association between postprandial epigastric fullness and pyloric valve disturbance was studied through analysis of bowel sounds and electrogastrography. Methods : Bowel sounds and electrogastrography were recorded together for fasting 15 min and postprandial 40 min. Parameters of bowel soundincluding motility index, sound to sound interval, standard deviation of sound to sound interval, sounds per minute, % of bowel sound, sound length, intensity, dominant frequency of sounds, and postprandial / fasting ratio of dominant frequency of sounds were analyzed with a specialized program. By electrogastrography, regularity of slow waves and power ratio were obtained. Results : Significances of bowel sounds appeared in motility index (p=0.046), dominant frequency of fasting (p=0.048), postprandial (p=0.003), and the ratio of postprandial/fasting (p=0.000); those of EGG parameters were shown in postprandial regularity of slow waves (p=0.006) and power ratio (p=0.011). Conclusion : Pyloric valve disturbance was a cause of postprandial epigastric fullness in patients with functional dyspepsia. Analysis of bowel sound might be useful in diagnosing its existence.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.621-628
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• 2008

Objectives : The aim of this study was to investigate changes of gastric vagal nerve activity and pyloric valve function after execution of combination treatments of both electroacupuncture at Zusanli(ST36) and manual acupuncture at other acupoints in patient with functional dyspepsia. Methods : Bowel sounds of 49 patients (18 male, 31 female) were recorded and their % of bowel sound (%BS) and ratio of dominant frequency (DF) were analyzed. Postprandial %BS was used to indicate the gastric vagal activity after eating. Ratio of postprandial/fasting dominant frequency was used to present the degree of pyloric valve function. According to values of %BS and DF ratio, each patient was classified into normal or abnormal (<6 %BS, hypoactivity: <1 DF ratio, dysfunction) group. For 2 weeks, patients received a treatment consisting of both electroacupuncture stimulation at Zusanli (ST36) and acupuncture at other meridian points. Variation of parameters shifting normal to abnormal or abnormal to normal was observed, and total cure rate was calculated. Results : Total cure rate of %BS was 16%, and that of DF was 37%. Patients who improved to normal value from abnormal or aggravated to abnormal level showed both significant difference in both vagal nerve hypoactivity and pyloric valve dysfunction, respectively. Conclusions : Analysis of bowel sound might be useful to evaluate both gastric vagal nerve activity and pyloric valve function. Combination effects of Zusanli (ST36) electroacupuncture and manual acupuncture of other acupoints showed a bidirectional effect in which their activity and function were in general improved. sometimes from aggravated to abnormal level.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.666-674
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• 2008

Objectives : The aim of this study was to evaluate gastrointestinal parasympathetic nerve activation and pyloric valve function in patients with functional dyspepsia through analysis of bowel sounds and to investigate clinical characteristics associated with the parameters of bowel sounds. Method : We surveyed clinical characteristics of patients by using a questionnaire about functional dyspepsia. Bowel sounds were recorded for 15 minutes during fasting state and for 40 minutes during postprandial state. We then classified the patients into 3 groups by abnormal states of bowel sounds, specifically by the percentage of B.S. and dominenet frequency, and studied clinical characteristics in each group. Results : Among the 182 subjects, patients who had low activity of parasympathetic nerve were 25.8% and showed a tendency of female-dominant, family history and more frequent abdominal pain. Those who had pyloric valve disturbance were 24.1% and showed no tendency by sex distribution, family history and complained of indigestion sensation. Patients who had both disorders were 10.9%, and their clinical characteristics were non-specific. Conclusion : Analysis of bowel sounds may be useful in evaluating pathophysiological factors of functional dyspepsia.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.191-199
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• 2009

Objectives : The aim of this study was to evaluate the therapeutic effect of acupuncture and herbal medicine in patients who had hvpoactivity of the gastric vagus nerve and pyloric valve disturbance simultaneously with function dyspepsia by bowel sounds analysis. Methods : Bowel sounds of 10 patients (male 1, female 9) were recorded and their % of bowel sound (%BS) and ratio of dominant frequency (DF) were analyzed before and after treatment. Hypoactivity of the gastric vagus nerve was considered if % BS was <6%. and pyloric valve disturbance was accepted if DF ratio (e.g.. postprandial DF/fasting DF) was <1. Electroacupuncture at Zusanli (ST36, 3Hz, 30 minutes) and manual acupuncture at other meridian points were applied daily for 2 weeks. Herbal medicine, Pyengwi-san. was administered to all patients (100cc, 3 times/day). Results : DF ratio significantly increased from $0.93\pm0.06$ to $1.06\pm0.04$ after treatment for 2 weeks (p=0.005). 9 of 10 patients were improved to DF ratio>1. %BS also increased from $2.97\pm1.17%$ to $4.49\pm4.27%$. not significantly. 3 patients showed a remarkable elevation, and their %BS reached >6% of normal value. Conclusions : Combined effect of electroacupuncture at Zusanli (ST36), manual acupuncture. and Pyengwi-san was shown effective in the improvement of pyloric valve disturbance more than hypoactivity of gastric vagus nerve on patients with functional dyspepsia.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.26-38
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• 2012

Objectives : The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of partial pyloric obstruction on body weight, gastric juice, gastric surface area and gastric edema in normal intact and/or vagotomized rats. Methods : Partial pyloric obstruction was performed by wrapping a non-absorbable rubber ring (D:6 mm, W:4 mm, T:1 mm) around the 1st portion of the duodenum. Vagotomy was performed by resecting the branches around the esophagogastric junction. Pre-post body weight differential, fasting gastric juice volume, gastric surface area and gastric edema were measured at 8 weeks and 20 weeks. For the effect of pyloric reperfusion the rubber ring was removed after 8 weeks and then an additional 12 weeks of observation was performed to the end of the 20-week experimental period. Results : In the initial 8 weeks observation, the effect of pylorus obstruction and/or vagotomy was significantly remarkable in the pylorus obstructed and vagotomized group; slowdown of weight gain, increase of fasting gastric juice volume, dilatation of gastric surface area and severe gastric edema were shown. In the remaining 12 weeks observation, the effect of reperfusion was significantly remarkable in the ring-removed antral dilated group; recovery of weight gain, decrease of gastric surface area and decrease of gastric edema were shown. However, gastric juice volume was not significantly different from the other group. Conclusions : Partial pyloric obstruction plays a aggravating role and the vagus nerve plays a protective role in body weight, gastric juice, gastric surface area, and gastric edema. Furthermore, pyloric valve dysfunction as an aggravating factor strengthened in defect of the vagus nerve. These results suggest that patients with both functional pyloric outlet obstruction and hypofunction of vagus nerve need to be diagnosed in good time and treated properly.